On-air gaffe: Warne, Symonds in hot water
FOXTEL-OWNED Kayo Sports has apologised after Australian cricket greats ShaneWarne and Andrew Symonds made an expletive-laden, on-air gaffe ridiculing batting star Marnus Labuschagne.
The pair ripped into Australia’s No 3 for his eccentric mannerisms at the crease, apparently unaware the cameras were recording.
The exchange, which took place as they were preparing to call the Big Bash League game between the Adelaide Strikers and the Melbourne Renegades, was being widely shared on social media on Friday night and viewed nearly 49,000 times (at 11.15pm NZ time).
It brought back memories of the infamous ‘‘can’t bowl, can’t throw’’ sledge directed at former test paceman Scott Muller captured by Channel Nine’s sound effects mic in Hobart in 1999.
Warne, then a player, had the finger pointed at him but has maintained hewas not the culprit. A Nine cameraman, Joe Previtera (aka Joe the Cameraman), publicly confessed to the jibe but mystery has always hovered over what happened.
The conversation on Friday started innocently enough with Warne suggesting
Labuschagne’s part-time leg-spin should be introduced into the attack late on the second day of the third test in Sydney.
‘‘Do something now to his ADD (attention deficit disorder) f...ing pills,’’ Symonds said.
‘‘Yeah, f...,’’ Warne responded. ‘‘Jeez it’s annoying. ‘No!!!’ Just f...ing bat properly,’’ Warne said, referring to Labuschagne’s unorthodox behaviour while batting. Superstar batsman
Steve Smith has similar quirks but was not targeted.
Symonds then suggests ‘‘we’ll have to give him the hog pile’’ – a termwhich refers to a group of people jumping on top of a person.
‘‘Mate, if you keep that s... up we’re going to have to squash your guts out your a...,’’
Symonds says, drawing a laugh from Warne.
Australia’s teammanagement
is aware of the remarks but a team spokesman has indicated it is unlikely they will take the matter further during the crucial test.
The comments will make for an awkward situation should Warne have to interview Labuschagne as part of his commitments with Fox Cricket.
Warne has worked with Labuschagne in the past, providing the part-time legspinnerwith bowling tips during the 2019 Ashes in England.
Kayo Sports, a subsidiary of Foxtel, issued an apology on Twitter. ‘‘Our stream started early and caught some unacceptable comments. On behalf of @kayosports and the commentary team, we unreservedly apologise,’’ the streaming service tweeted.